Emergency chain attachment for automobile-wheels.



L. E. McKlNNON.

EMERGENCY CHAIN ATTACHMENT-FOR AUTOMOBILE WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. a, 1913.

1 ,179,733. 7 v Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

50 opposite ends in Spaced loops 6 bof spacing LACHLAN E. McKINNiON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

To all whom it may concerh:

Be it known that I, LACHLAN E. MCKIN- NON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and use-' ful Improvement in Emergency Chain rittachments for Automobile-Wheels, ofwhich the followingis a specification.

\ gency when it is found that the tire is slipping or is in danger of slipping on the road or pavement, and several attachments are generally arranged at mtervals about the circumference of the wheel, so as to give the tire sufiicient grip on the surface over which I s it travels. a

The object of this invention is to provide an attachment of this kind of simple and inexpensive construction which can be easily and quickly secured in position on the wheel and which will efl'ectua'lly prevent the slipping of the tire and at the same time will not unduly strain nor injure the fabric of the tire which it engages.

' In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is afragment'ary side elevation of an automobile wheel provided with an emergency chain attachment embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan 'view thereof. Fig.3 is a fragmentary plan view of the "attachment detached from the wheel. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures. g

The attachment comprises a chain portion whichextends across the outer bearing face or tread portion of the tire, and an attaching portion which extends across the inner-face of the rim of the wheel and holds the chain portion in place on the tire. The chain portion of the attachment consists of parallel chains A A, preferably two in number as shown, which are secured .at their members B arranged on oppositesides of the tire. The spacing'members B'are each provided with a central attaching portion 12', and an attaching member C is adapted.

to detachably connect the attaching portions Specification of Letters Patent.

EMERGENCY CHAIN ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILE-WHEELS.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916,

V Application filed March a, 1913. Serial No. 751,688.

of the spacing members across the rim of the tire. These spacing members may be constructed in any suitable manner. Those shown are each formed from'a single piece or bar of metal which is bent into substantially triangular shape with its-central portion forming the attaching loop I), and its end portions bent inwardly to form the spaced end loops 6 b. The end portions extend across each other with their ends abutting against the inner faces of the opposite inclined sides of the spacing member, so as to close the loops b b and separate these loops from each other and from the attaching loop b. The ends of the chains secured in these different loops are thus prevented from coming into contact with one another. The attaching member C, which connects the central attaching portion 1) of the spacing members B across the rim of the wheel,

may be of any suitable construction and may be secured to the spacing members in any desirable manner. In the construction shown, this member consists of an attaching chain of suitable size which. is inclosed. throughout the greater portion of its length by a leather casing c which prevents the chain from rubbing and marring the rim and spoke of the wheel. This chain is adapted to encircle the spoke of the wheel and has its end link at one end in direct engagement with the attaching portion 6' of one of the spacing members B, while at its opposite end it is "detachably connected with the other spacing member by a hooked; connection D having opposite end hooks (l, one of which engages in the attaching portion of the; spacing member, and the other in the end link of the a chain. Spring guards d normally close the open ends of the hooks and prevent accidental detachment of the'parts connected thereby. The attachment is simple and can be inexpensively vmanufactured as, aside from the chains which may be of standard size, the only parts required are the spacing members which can be easily and economicaliy formed, and the hooked connection which may be of any standard make. The

spacing members lie flat along the opposite sides of the tire and the attachment has no 'parts or projections which will tend to stick may be necessary or desired, not to exceed, however, for practical purposes the number of spokes'in the wheel.

By'conne cting the attaching chain the i central "attaching portion of the. spacing members, the latter are free to turn or rock on their connections, so that they will tend to equalize the strainstowhich the chains from bearing with undue forceupon the' A A are subjected, and prevent either chain from being subjected to excessive strain and surface of the tire. The construction serves to distribute the strain between both chains, so thatit will not fall upon either one alone,-

nor upon any single part oitfthetire.- It also gives additional yielding and rocln'ng movement to the chains, so that theycanreadily accommodatethemselves to the surfaces over which they travel, so as to efiectually'grip the same. Theflexible attaching chain permits thecross chains to' shift their position toa limitedextent circumferentially of the tially parallel chains 1 adapted toextend across the tread portion of the tire-ofthe 'Wheel,'spac1ng members arranged at opposite ends of sald chains, each spacing member comprising a single rod shaped to -form a central eye and two end eyes, said single.

'rod having portions thereof crossing each other. to completely close said l central eye and the two. endey'es, said chains being secured at their opposite ends in said endeyes and confined therein, andan attaching member detaohably connecting the central eyes substantially asset forth. a

of said spacing members, substantially as set forth, 1

2. An emergency chain attachment for automobile wheels comprising two substan .tially parallel, chainsadapted to. extend across the tread portion ofthe tire of the wheel, spacing members, arranged at the opposite ends of said chains, each spacing member comprising a single piece'of metal shaped to forma central attaching'portion and corner loop portions, the opposite ends .of said single piece of metal extending across each other and closing said corner loop portlons, said chalns being secured at thelr opposite ends'in said corner loop p'ortions, and an attaching member detachably connecting'the attaching portions of said spacing members, substantially as set forth.

3. An emergency chain attachment for:

automobile Wheels comprising two 'substan-. tially parallel chains adapted to extend across the tread 'portion'of the tire ofthe wheel, spacing members arranged at oppo-' site ends Ofl said chains, each spacing member comprising a central attaching portion andcorner loop portions, the same being formed from a single piece of metal bent.

into substantially triangular shape with its opposite ends extending across each othe'r and closing 'saldlcorner loopportions, said in said cornerloop portions, and an'attaching member detachably connecting the attaching. portions of said spacing members,

Witness my hand this "13th. l

ary, 1913.

' Witnessesr a R. A. MCKINNON, Emzannrn M; Foams,

LACE/LAN E; MCKI N NQ of sets chains being secured at their opposite ends 

